Driving mechanism for self-propelled vehicles.



. H. M. CLARK.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR SELF PROBELLED VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED sun Fume.

1,254,885,. v V Patented Jan. 29,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

M W M ATTUFWEQYE H. M. CLARK. DRIVING MECHANISM FOR SELF PROPELLED VEHICLES- APLICATION FILED IULY 21' I916- Patented Jan. 29, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEYS i object of the present invention fto'provide a- HEBBERT M. CLARK.- OF OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN.

nn'rvn'm MECHANISM ron SELF-PROPELLED VEHICLES.

. Specification 01 Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 29, 1918 Application filed July 27, 1916. Serial No. 111,545.

To all whom itmay' concern.-

Be' it known that I, Hniumirr M. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Oshkosh, \Visconsin, in the county of Winnebagoand State o f- Wiscon'sin, have invented new and useful Im rovements in Drivin Mechanism for Selfropelled Vehicles, 0 which the followin is adescription', reference being had to e accompanyin' drawin s, whjicharea part of this speci cation. iheginvention relatesto driving mech nism' for self-propelled vehicle's.

The invention is more particularly designed to provide a driving mechanism for tractors. I

Atpresent in the construction of tractors it is usual to provide: a differential drivin mechanism similar to the-usual diflerentia gearing used on automobiles. .This form of differential. driving mechanism is objectionable in tractors, because it is diflicult toturn them. With the'usual differential when the vehicle makes a turn niorepower is ap lied the inside wheel than the Outside w eel. I have found that when a tractor is turned if all the power or a greater portion of the power applied toithe inside wheel than .to the outside wheel it; is difficult to-turn'the tractor but. that if the inside wheel is allowed to turn freely .while the poweris applied to the outside wheel the itractormaylbe easily turned. "It is therefore the essential drivingmechani'sm by which power ma be applied to both of the'drifvin -Wheels 0 the vehicle and also by which'eacfi I may lie separately controlled, so that either negof them maybe driven while the other I is allowed" to run free to facilitate turning the vehicle. J Y I The invention-is further designed to provide a new and improved form of driving mechanism for vjehicles.

-In th'edrawirigs: v

Fi urel is a View of the device embodying t e invention, parts being rokenj away and parts being shown in" section;

Fig. is a, section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

i Fig. 3 is a Section taken line ofFi'g. 1'; f

Fig; 4"is a vi'eivof a modified form of the device "embodyi 11 tion;

of the wheels,

.rality of pawls the invention, partsbeing I broken away an" part-s being'shown in sec:

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-'5 of Fig. 4. Y

In general the device comprises a hollow to the engine. through suitable gearing.

The drivm connectionbetween the shaft 6 and each of the wheels comprises in each instance a driven member or sprocket Wheel 7 provided with a hub S loosely mounted upon the shaft 6 between fixed collars 9 and 10 secured to said shaft and having a web portion 11 and a flangeportion 12 extending outwardly on either side of said web to form annular pockets or recesses 13 and 1 k. 'lhedriving road wheels are driven inthe present instance by the two sprockets 7 through a chain and gear connection'(not shown) with the road wheels. Any other suitable connection between the i and the road wheels may be used or the s rockets 7 maybe converted into. the hubs o the road wheels. Asqpr'eviously stated each of the sprockets 7. is loosely mounted on the drive shaft 6 and means are provided for .lockin each sprockets to drive the ve-licle either forward or backward. ,In each instance this connection between the sprockets 7 and: the shaft 6 for backward drive comprises a plu-.

into the pockets 14. These pawls are sprockets 7 if desired,

of said;

15 pivotally mounted on studs 16 secured to lugs -17,1within the pock ets extending. outwardly from the web 11 adapted to'engag'e on thebackward drive of the vehiclewith'the ratchet wheel 18 which is pinned to a rod 19 slidably but.

nou-rotatably mounted within-one end of,

thesli'aft 6. The pin-20 whichsecures the sprocket 1 8 to the longitudinally extending slots .21 in opposite sides of the shaft 6.

I The pawls are non anally heldin operative position by-isprings] 22 secured to the-pawls andto the flange 12 1.051 shaft 19 extends through 3 of the sprocket 7 and the downward movement of said pawls is limited by pins 23 secured to the web 11 of the sprocket. The means for connecting each sprocket 7 to the shaft 6 for forward drive of the vehicle comprises a plurality of pawls 24 pivotally mounted on pins 25 secured to lugs 27 connected to the. web 11 and projecting outwardly into the pockets 13. The pawls 24 are adapted to engage a ratchet wheel 28 which is slidably but non'rotatably mounted upon theshaft by means of a pin 29 pass ing through slots 30 in opposite sides of the hollow shaft 6 and secured to the slidable rod 19. The pawls 11 are normallyheld in operative position by springs .31 similar to the springs 22 and similarly connected to the pawls and flange 12 and are similarly limited in their downward movement by pins 32similar to the pins 23 previously described. The rods 19 disposed within the hollow of the shaft. at the ends thereof are norn'ially held in outermost position for forward drive by means of springs 33 disposed wiihin the hollow shaft 6 between the inner ends of the rod 19 and a stop block 34 secured within the hollow of the shaft 6.

The means for separately controlling the drive to the road wheels comprises means for separately bringing either set of pawlson each sprocket 7 into driving relation with the shaft 6. This means consists of a mech- .anism for moving each rod-19 together with the ratchets 18 and 28 with respect to theshaft 6 and the sprocket 7 and consists of a collar 35 slidably but non-rotatably mounted upon the shaft 6 by a pin 36 wh'ich extends through longitudinally extending slots 37 in opposite sides of the shaft 6 and is secured to the inner end of the rod 19 and further consists of means for shifting the collar 35 with-respect tothe shaft 6. This 'collarshifting-means consists of 'a yoke With the mechanism above described when it is desired to drive. both wheels of-,the

me1nber 38 the yoke arms 3}) of which are disposed'in'an annular groove' -lOin the. collar.35 and the end 41 of whicli is pivotally secured by a pin 42 to-a,con'trol rod; 43.

tractor or vehicle forwardly. the rods 19 are moved outwardly through the collars 35, yokes 38 and control rods 13 assisted by the springs 33to bring the. ratchets 28 into, en

gagement with thepawls 21 carried bythe sprockets 7. When it is desired to reverse the drive of thevehicle the rods 19' are i niov-ed-"inwardly the pinsZO, 29 and 36 m'ovvin outwardly in the slots 21, 3 0 and 37 thrmigh the movement of the collars 35, yokes :28 and controlrods 43 to hung the ratchet wheels [8 inwardly into engage-- ment with the pawls 15 to connect the sprockets T in" drivinga.relation with the shuftfl. As previously pointed out-on the turning of the vehicle it is necessary to unease allow the inner road wheel to run free while the power isapplied to the outer road wheel to facilitate the turning movement and this is accomplished through the mechanism above described owing to the fact that each of the rods 19 at the ends of the shaft 6 are separately controlled. Thus if it is desired to turn the vehicle toward the left the power is applied to the outer road wheel through the sprocket 7 at the upper right hand corner in-the drawin s and the s rocket 7 at the other end of t e shaft is ree to turn loosely thereon by the manipulation of the rods, 19 through the control means previously described. This is accomplished-by connecting up the right hand s rocket '7 with the shaft 6 for forward rive and throwing the drive for the left hand .sprocket 7 into reverse drive by bringing vehicle in the opposite direction the' left.

hand sprocket is thrown into forward drive and the right hand sprocket into reverse. Thus the separate control means enable the operator-to throw the drive on to either wheel and allow the other wheel to runidle to facilitate the turning movement of the tractor.

The mechanism shown in Figs. 4 and 50f the drawing differs from the. former con- 'struction in that the pair of axles or drive.

shafts 44 and 45'are employed which shafts are adapted to be connected up to any suitable source of power through separately controlled driving connections. The road wheels'of-the vehicle may be directly 'connected to the shafts 44 and45 Or they may be connected to them through any suitabledrivingconnection.

The 'means .for connecting either of the shafts 44 and 45 to the source'of power is similar in each instance so only one ofsaid' connections need to be described, each or said connections. being operatively connected to. a singlegiear 46.. w 1 the engine through any suitable form of gearing (not shown)., The neai'is for con necting the gear {lfito either of the shafts 44- and 45 comprises means for locking the gear- .46 against rotation to either of, said shafts.

The gear 46 is provided with a pair of housings 47on. either side thereof which h ave the hub portions 48 loosely mounted on the shafts 44 and 45- between fixed, collars 49 carried by the shafts. The gear 46 is locked to either shaft through means for locking the housing to either ofsaid shafts.

ich is connected. up to.

In each instance this comprises means for locking the housing to the shaft for forward drlve and means forlocking the housing for The means backward drive of the vehicle. for lockin the housing 47 to the shaft for forward rive comprlses a plurality of pawls 50 pivotally mounted on studs 51 secured vto the housing 47 and a ratchet wheel" 52 with which said pawls 50'engage. The pawls 50 are normally held in operativepo sition by means of springs 53 and the downward movement of the pawls is limited by stop pins .54 carried by the housing. The means for rotating the road wheels in the reverse direction comprises a plurality of pawls 55 ivotally mounted on studs 56 secured to t e gear 46 and a ratchet wheel 57 with which thepawls engage, ratchet wheel a 57 in the present instance being integral with the ratchet wheel 52 'but having teeth pitched in the opposite direction to those of the ratchet wheel52. The pawls 55 are normally held, in operative position by means of springs 58 connected to them and to the houslng 47 and their downward movement is limited by stop pins 59 secured to i the gear 46.

Means are provided for shifting the ratehets 52 or5 into engagement with their respective pawls and this consists in each 1n-' stance of a shaft 60 mounted within the hollow of the-drive shaft 44 and means for controlling the movement. of said shaft.

collar 65 secured to the shaft 60 by trolled through its control sha The ratchets 52 and 57 are secured to the shaft by meansof a pin 61 which is slidably mounted in 'slots 62 in opposite sides of the drive shaft and the shaft 60' is normally held in outer position for forward drive by means of a spring 63 interposed between the end of the shaft 60 and the end of the shaft 64 of the drive shaft; The means for controlling or operating the shaft 60 in each instance comprises a a pin 66 which passes through longitudinally extending slots 67 in opposite sides of the drive shaft so that said collar is slidably but non-rotatably mounted on said drive shaft and further consists'of'a yoke member 68, the yoke arms 69 of which are mounted in the annular groove 7 0 in the collar 65. Any suitable means may be employed to operate the yokes'68 to shift the collar andconsequently 'the shaft 60 and the ratchets 52 and 57. It will be noted that each ofthe drive shaftsis se arately con- (:60 and this as previously pointed out will allow one of the road wheels to run idle while the other is a being driven.

The operation of thls form of driving mechanism is similar to that previously described, for when the ratchets 52 on both shafts are'in engagement with the pawls 50 carried by the housings 47 the gear 46 will.

be connected up 'tosaid shafts for forward 7 i drive and when the ratchets 57 are in engagement with the pawls'55 on both shafts the vehicle will i be driven backwardly through theconnection of the gear 46 with the engine. A

v 7.0 ow if it is desired to turn the vehicleto the left the clutch mechanism for the right hand wheel is shifted for forward drive through the manipulation ofthe yoke a member 68 and the clutch member for the left hand wheel is thrown, into reserve under which conditions the pawl 55 for' the left hand wheel will ride over the teeth of the ratchet 57 and consequentlythe left hand, v t

wheel will remain idle while power is being transmitted to the right hand wheelto make the turn to theleft.

The invention thus exemplifies a; separate driving connection for each of the road wheels of a vehicle so that said wheel'slmay be driven either forward or backwardly and means for separately controlling said driv in connections for each of said wheels.

TVhat I claim as my invention is t a 1. In-a driving mechanism for a selfpropelled vehicle, the combination with a drive member, of-driven -members loosely mounted with respect to said drive member" a a reversible driving connection drive member and each of said driven members, and means" for separately and independently controlling-each ofsaid, driving connections. y y

2. In a driving mechanism for self propelled vehicles the combination, with a drive loosely mounted shaft, of driven members thereon, reversible pawl and ratchet connections between said drive shaft'and each s and means for sepa- 7' y of said driven members, rately andandependently controlling each of sald dr vin connections. 1

In a riving mechanismfor selfropelled vehicles, the combination wit a drive shaft, .of driven members loosely mounted thereon, reversely arranged pawls mounted upon the said driven members, reverselv arranged ratchet wheels for each ofsaid riven'memhers slidably mounted on the driveshaft and cotiperating with said'pawls, and separate means for moving the ratchet wheels for each between sai 1110 opposite sides of each of of said driven members to inde endently connect one set of pawls and rate et wheel for one of said driven membersand indea pendently disconnect the other set.

4., In a driving mechanism for selfro-a ,pelled vehicles, the combinatiomfwit a drive shaft, of drivenmembers loosely mounted thereon,. reversely arranged pawls mounted upon opposite sides of each ofsaid wheels for each of said driven members slid ably mounted on the drive shaft and cod crating with said pawls, meansfornorrnallg maintaining corresponding pawls and drivenmembers, reversely arranged ratchet a ratchets for said driven members in driving engagement, and separate means for moving the ratchet wheels for each driven member to independently connect or disconnect the pawls and ratchets;

5. In a driving mechanism for self-propelled vehicles, the combination, with a drive shaft, of driven members loosely mounted thereon, reversely arranged paw'ls mounted upon opposite sides of each of said "driven. members, reversely arranged ratchet wheels for each of said driven members slid- I mm. d

ably mounted on the drive shaft and cotiperatin with said pawls, spring means fornorma ly maintain ng corresponding pawls and ratchets for said driven members in V driving engagement,and separate means for moving the ratchet wheels for each of said driven members to independently connect or disconnect the pawls and ratchets for i the driven members.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signatnre.

HERBERT M. CLARK. 

